Beverage carton tear resistant handle

ABSTRACT

Handle design for a beverage carton allows the handle feature to lie directly next to the underlying reinforced handle feature and provides tear resistance in that there is no single layer of board being carried by either the person stocking the product, or the consumer as they handle the package. This avoids any such tearing due to the placement of the reinforcing strip relative to the handle openings.

This claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/498,093, filed Jun. 17, 2011 and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to cartons. More particularly, this invention relates to a carrying handle for a carton.

In the marketing of soft drinks, beer, water and other beverages, it is well known to sell those retail consumer products in cans or containers which are grouped together in six packs, twelve packs, twenty-four packs or other arrangements. Particularly in the case of twelve and twenty-four can packs it is common to package the cans in cartons so as to make it easier to handle the product for the wholesaler and the retailer, as well as the retail consumer.

There are any number of different types of can cartons known in the prior art. But one particular type that has found significant commercial success over the years is a so-called wraparound or sleeve style carton. In such a carton a number of cans, e.g., twelve or twenty-four, are wrapped in a paperboard box or carton comprised of top and bottom wall panels, side wall panels, and end flaps on each end. The end flaps at each end are sealed one to the other, thereby providing a closed or sealed package or carton for the cans. Now with the wraparound carton package so formed, it is desirable to provide a carrying handle so the retail consumer can carry the carton. There is any number of different carrying handles known in the wraparound carton art. One example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,316, assigned to the assignee of this invention and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The overall purpose of such carton handles is to provide an easy to use handle that is structurally sound so the consumer can pick up and carry the carton simply through use of the handle structure.

With the use of thinner, more lightweight paperboard to construct the carton and the packaging of a greater number of containers in the carton, the tendency for the handle or carton structure surrounding the handle to tear has increased. Even if the carton and handle remain functional and do not fail or rupture, the torn carton or handle is unsightly and a distraction for the consumer when considering to purchase the packaged containers. As such, various cartons utilize reinforced handle constructions to minimize the likelihood of such tears. Nevertheless, in some prior art designs, the carton or handle material may tear of fail in those areas that have not been reinforced while the reinforced structure maintains the functionality of the carton as a whole. As such the torn carton or handle remains unsightly and a deterrent for the consumer when considering a purchase of the packaged containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a primary objective of this invention has been to provide a novel carrying handle for a carton and, particularly, for a wraparound type carton, where the handle's structural components are formed directly from the top panel of the carton. And with this type handle, it is one particular objective of this invention to provide an improved, reinforced carrying handle structure which maintains the structural integrity of the wraparound carton through the distribution chain until it is chosen by a retail consumer, which is very easy to render usable, and to use, by the retail consumer once the carton has been so chosen, and which does not adversely impact on the either the appearance or the structural integrity of the carton when the handle is used by the packager, retailer, or user.

In accord with these objectives, the carrying handle for a carton of this invention is particularly adapted for use with a wraparound type carton in which cans, e.g., soft drink, water, beverage or beer cans, are sold. The handle in one embodiment is a racetrack handle configuration and includes a handle reinforcing strip defined in the carton's top panel which is in close proximity to and in some embodiments, immediately adjacent to, the handle openings such that use of the handle, even with larger packages with thinner paperboard construction, will not result in any tearing of the carton structure proximate to the handle or the reinforcing strip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank used to make a carton according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the top panel of a carton formed from the blank of FIG. 1 showing the handle design; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the underside of the view in FIG. 2 showing a reinforcing strip in proximity to the handle openings according to one aspect of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The carrying handle 10 of this invention is adapted for use with a wraparound carton 12 formed from a carton blank 14 (FIGS. 1-3). The wraparound carton 12 may be filled with, for example, cans of soft drink, beer, water or another beverage or a non-beverage contents in the carton 12.

The wraparound carton blank 14 basically includes opposed side panels 16, 18, a top composite panel 20 formed from two top panel flaps 20 a, 20 b and a bottom panel 22, these panels all being foldably connected alongside fold lines 24-30. Also, the carton 12 includes, on each end 32, 34, overlapping end flaps 16 a, 16 b, 18 a, 18 b that hinge to end fold lines 36, 38 of the respective side panels 16, 18. Each end flap cooperates with top and bottom dust panels 22 a, 22 b, 20C, 20 d, 20 e, 20 f that are hingedly connected to fold lines 36, 38. The end flaps at each end 32, 34 of the wraparound carton 12 are glued or otherwise fastened together so that, in effect, the wraparound carton 12 provides a single closed package for the cans there within.

The carrying handle 10 of this invention, with the carton in blank or non-erected configuration, is illustrated in FIG. 1. As there shown, the blank includes a U-shaped handle hole 40 a, 40 b defined in each top panel flap 20 a, 20 b, respectively. Thus the handle holes 40 a, 40 b in combination have a size sufficient to permit a user's fingers to be received therein when a carton of containers, e.g., cans is being carried by the user.

A racetrack handle 42 such as this handle extends longitudinally towards each end 32, 34 of the carton 12. A dispenser 44 of this carton can be used for both cans and other types of cylindrical containers, including PET bottles having a stubby configuration. One of the unique features of the dispenser of this invention is that it provides easy access to the cans or bottles in the carton but yet does not greatly diminish the structural integrity of the carton. Any type of known dispenser can be employed with this invention.

Carton 12 is designed to carry 24-12 ounce cans when packed. The carton is constructed in accordance with the teachings of FIG. 1 with the racetrack handle. Handle 42 has been modified to include a reinforced handle feature including a handle reinforcing flap 46, which is joined to top flap 20 b via fold line 48. The handle 42 affords tear resistance in that there is no single layer of board being carried by either the person stocking the product, or the consumer as they handle the package. Also, the handle 42 allows for an average person to insert 4 fingers versus 3 fingers into handle openings 40 a, 40 b, helping to displace and spread the forces that may ultimately begin to rip the top 20 of the package.

As shown in FIGS. 2-3, when the carton 12 is formed from the blank 14, the top flaps 20 a, 20 b are glued together and the handle flap 46 is folded into position between the handle holes 40 a, 40 b on the underside of the top panel 20 (FIG. 3). In one aspect of this invention, the outer longitudinal edges of each handle hole 40 a, 40 b are juxtaposed immediately adjacent to the handle reinforcing flap 46 as shown by arrows A in FIG. 3. In this manner, when the filled carton 12 is lifted by the handle 42, the top panel 20 does not tear from the handle holes 40 a, 40 b due to the proximity of the handle reinforcing flap 46 at the locations of arrows A. Handle flaps 50 a, 50 b formed within each U-shaped handle hole 40 a, 40 b, respectively, may be folded onto the handle reinforcing flap 46 when a user inserts his/her hand into the opening 40 a or 40 b to lift the carton 12.

The handle 42 is referred to as a “racetrack” design as it is oval in its die cut. The tear resistant handle 42 changes the area between the handle corner at arrows A and the underlying reinforcing flap 46. On the known designs, there is about ¼″ area between the handle opening 40 a, 40 b and the reinforced flap 46 that allows the single layer of fibers in this area to begin to tear. The conventional handle may not completely fail yet the top of the carton looks less appealing to a consumer than a package with no rips. Trade audits show that tears appear on about 50% of conventional 24 can cartons in the trade. Also, it is notable that many cartons recently utilize downgraded board caliper on this package from 0.021″ to 0.020″. This may lead to tears with the conventional handle and the handle 42 of this invention is a solution to the tears.

From the above disclosure of the general principles of this invention and the preceding detailed description of at least one embodiment, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which this invention is susceptible. Therefore, I desire to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereof. 

1. A carton for beverage containers comprising: a top panel, a bottom panel, two side panels and two end panels; a handle in the top panel, the handle including at least one handle opening into which a user may insert fingers to lift the carton; and a reinforcing handle flap in the top panel juxtaposed immediately adjacent to the handle opening so as to inhibit tearing of the carton top panel when the carton is lifted by the handle.
 2. The carton of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of end flaps each extending from one of the top, bottom and side panels wherein the end panels are each formed from selected end flaps.
 3. The carton of claim 1 further comprising: first and second top panel flaps each joined to one of the side panels, the first and second top panel flaps overlapping one another to thereby combine to form the top panel.
 4. The carton of claim 3 wherein the reinforcing handle flap is foldably coupled to the second top panel flap to thereby be folded into face-to-face juxtaposition with the second top panel flap.
 5. The carton of claim 4 wherein the reinforcing handle flap is foldably coupled to a distal edge of the second top panel flap along a fold line.
 6. The carton of claim 5 wherein the reinforcing handle flap extends substantially the entire length of the second top panel flap.
 7. The carton of claim 3 further comprising a pair of handle openings, each of which is formed in one of the top panel flaps with the reinforcing handle flap being located between the handle openings.
 8. The carton of claim 7 wherein a region between the pair of handle openings has a thickness of at least three plies of carton material.
 9. The carton of claim 7 wherein the region of at least three plies extends substantially the entire length of the top panel between the end panels.
 10. The carton of claim 9 wherein the region of at least three plies extends beyond the length of the top panel and into each of the end panels.
 11. The carton of claim 1 further comprising: a dispenser formed in the carton through which the containers can be removed from the carton.
 12. A carton for beverage containers comprising: a top panel, a bottom panel, two side panels and two end panels; a plurality of end flaps each extending from one of the top, bottom and side panels, wherein the end panels are each formed from selected end flaps; first and second top panel flaps each joined to one of the side panels, the first and second top panel flaps overlapping one another to thereby combine to form the top panel; a handle in the top panel, the handle including at least two handle openings into which a user may insert fingers to lift the carton, each of the handle openings being formed in one of the top panel flaps; a reinforcing handle flap in the top panel juxtaposed between the handle openings so as to inhibit tearing of the carton top panel when the carton is lifted by the handle; wherein the reinforcing handle flap is foldably coupled to a distal edge of the second top panel flap to thereby be folded into face-to-face juxtaposition with the second top panel flap; wherein a region between the pair of handle openings has a thickness of at least three plies of carton material extending substantially the entire length of the top panel between the end panels and into each of the end panels; and a dispenser formed in the carton through which the containers can be removed from the carton.
 13. A package comprising: a plurality of beverage containers arranged within a carton; the carton further comprising (a) a top panel, a bottom panel, two side panels and two end panels; (b) a handle in the top panel, the handle including at least one handle opening into which a user may insert fingers to lift the carton; and (c) a reinforcing handle flap in the top panel juxtaposed immediately adjacent to the handle opening so as to inhibit tearing of the carton top panel when the carton is lifted by the handle.
 14. The package of claim 1 further comprising: first and second top panel flaps each joined to one of the side panels, the first and second top panel flaps overlapping one another to thereby combine to form the top panel.
 15. The package of claim 14 wherein the reinforcing handle flap is foldably coupled to a distal edge of the second top panel flap to thereby be folded into face-to-face juxtaposition with the second top panel flap.
 16. The package of claim 14 further comprising a pair of handle openings, each of which is formed in one of the top panel flaps with the reinforcing handle flap being located between the handle openings.
 17. The package of claim 16 wherein a region between the pair of handle openings has a thickness of at least three plies of carton material extending substantially the entire length of the top panel between the end panels and into each of the end panels.
 18. A carton blank comprising: serially connected a top panel, a first side panel, a bottom panel and a second side panel; a plurality of end flaps each extending from one of the top, bottom and side panels, wherein selected ones of the end flaps are adapted to combine to form end panels of a carton formed from the carton blank; a handle in the top panel, the handle including at least one handle opening into which a user may insert fingers to lift the carton; and a reinforcing handle flap coupled to the top panel adjacent to the handle opening so as to inhibit tearing of the carton top panel when the carton is lifted by the handle.
 19. The carton blank of claim 18 further comprising: first and second top panel flaps each joined to one of the side panels, the first and second top panel flaps overlapping one another to thereby combine to form the top panel in the formed carton, the reinforcing handle flap being foldably coupled to a distal edge of the second top panel flap to thereby be folded into face-to-face juxtaposition with the second top panel flap in the formed carton.
 20. The carton blank of claim 5 wherein the reinforcing handle flap extends substantially the entire length of the second top panel flap.
 21. The carton blank of claim 19 further comprising a pair of handle openings, each of which is formed in one of the top panel flaps with the reinforcing handle flap being located between the handle openings in the formed carton.
 22. The carton blank of claim 18 further comprising: a dispenser through which containers can be removed from the formed carton. 